“Live Worship Shop” House Tour 2016

The 2nd annual “Live Worship Shop” House Tour took place on Saturday, October 29, 2016 from 12:00 PM to 4:00 PM.

Below is the list of houses and galleries on the 2016 Tour:

35 N. Howard Avenue

Built in 1928 for the Iron’s family, this charming house has been home to only two families over the last 88 years–with the exception of a sole beneficiary inheritance of an acquaintance. Since it’s construction, minimal alterations have been made to this Colonial-Revival Style home.

Come check out its classic symmetrical features of Georgian architecture, period wallpaper, decorative pediments, original staircase, and more in this beautiful home.

74 S. Harrison Avenue

Built in 1900 for Mrs. Mary E. Schaffnit, a young widow with two small children, much of this charming home has been preserved over the last 116 years. The original blueprints and building contract still remain in the home and are on display.

Come check out the original woodwork, floors, stained and leaded glass windows, and doors with their original hardware that made the new owners fall in love with this house at first site. You’ll also get to see the current owner’s kitchen renovation that combines modern conveniences while keeping in style with the era of the home.

108 Meade Avenue

Built in approximately 1895, this Queen Ann-style home was built by Michael Simon. After the house was completed and lived in for a short period of time, it was sold to the Salvation Army and was used as a maternity ward adjacent to Suburban General Hospital from 1906 – 1945. After a variety of other owners and tenants, the house was restored from eight apartment units to its original layout and character in 1993.

Come check out the 30-by-8-foot entryway featuring a carved oak staircase, the splendid foyer, the majestic stained glass windows, 10 fireplaces, and assortment of rooms spread throughout this three-story house.

Red Clay Tile Works

Red Clay Tile Works is an artist’s studio owned and operated by Eileen and Anders Anderson. Since 1980, the artists have made handcrafted tiles for collectors and have created unique installations, where ceramic tile is appropriate, for discriminating patrons all over the world.

House tour participant are invited to enjoy a demonstration of the tile making process and can preview the holiday gifts as well as unique house number tiles, which are their most popular item. There’s also an Excursion to the Unusual on the Sculpture and Assemblies area for participants to explore.

The Artists’ Gallery

The Artists’ Gallery is a venue where local established and aspiring artists can exhibit and sell their work. It provides a home for many guest artists in a unique setting and gives dedicated local artists a showcase to display quality, meaningful work and features art exhibits several times a month that run on Friday and Saturdays.

House tour participants are invited to check out the photographic artistry of Jeff Schneider and his twenty years of photography under the banner of “American Squared.” Jeff’s photographic retrospective is a labor of love that beautifully documented the ridiculous and the sublime from New York to Los Angeles and point in between.

House tour participants were also invited to a closing reception at Marius Rousseau House

100 Watkins Avenue

House Tour Reception at the Marius Rousseau House

Built in 1906 in the “Bellevue Park Plan,” this colonial revival style home was built by French-born architect Marius Rousseau who combined numerous architectural styles in this 5,788 square foot home. The interior living space totals over 9,100 square feet when including the unheated sunrooms and heated basement. The home sits on 4 lots totaling a little over .4 acres.

Throughout this five-floor, 8-10 bedroom home are 9 fireplaces, original lighting fixtures, doors and knobs, woodwork, marble, tarrazzo and hardwood floors, and stained glass as well as a unique glass tile ceiling and built-in refrigerator in the kitchen.

While the original floor plan remains unaltered, the previous owners completed renovations to restore and update the building to its current condition. In July 2016, the Marius Rousseau House was recognized as a historic landmark by the Pittsburgh History & Landmark Foundation. The current homeowners are currently seeking designation on the National Register of Historic Places as well as a potential facade preservation easement to permanently protect the building’s historic appearance.